Proviz High Viz Helmets and Accessories

[itself]

These folks are looking for a distributor in the US....hey Team Estrogen, it would be great if you would carry their line!

http://www.proviz.co.uk/

They have high vis helmets, runners/bikers clothing, and bags. Really nice line.

http://www.proviz.co.uk/images/products_helmets.jpg

[Tri Girl]

I like the color of that helmet- and the built in light on the visor!! Nice!!

[OakLeaf]

I would totally buy one of those, and the backpack too! I'd buy an extra backpack for DH. :cool:

[TrekTheKaty]

I'll take the helmet :D

HA! If you look at the website, the helmet has a front visor light and REAR red light! Sweet.

[itself]

Gals, I emailed Susan, if you are really interested in TE carrying Proviz, let Susan know! I really love their stuff and Rupert, one of the brother co owners, said they will be introducing some new stuff!

[Susan Otcenas]

Doesn't appear to be Snell or ANSI certified, but I've sent off an inquiry.

[itself]

Oh no, not certfied! Are there different standards in the UK?

[tulip]

I would definitely buy the helmet, the rucksack cover, and the under-saddle bag. And the jacket, of course.

[Becky]

I'm interested in a helmet, but it appears that they only come in one size, and it doesn't look small enough for me :confused:

http://www.discovercycling.com/accessories/accs-helmets/proviz-saturn-helmet.html

(On the flip side, I doubt they'd be big enough for DH.)

[Susan Otcenas]

Oh no, not certfied! Are there different standards in the UK?

Yes. Helmets sold in the US must have one of those 2 certifications. No retailer will sell them without it.

[TrekTheKaty]

Yep. I was worried about the certification. Keep us posted, Susan!

[itself]

Susan, thanks so much! Well, I hope it is not difficult to get the certifications!

[itself]

I'm interested in a helmet, but it appears that they only come in one size, and it doesn't look small enough for me :confused:

http://www.discovercycling.com/accessories/accs-helmets/proviz-saturn-helmet.html

(On the flip side, I doubt they'd be big enough for DH.)

Go to the www.proviz.co.uk website. There is a smaller size for children that might work for you called the Eris. They also have a larger size called the Triton. They do currently have a European distributor that ships worldwide. Come July, you can go directly to the Proviz website and order directlly.

[Becky]

Alas, my small head is not quite that small.

Their hi viz helmets are a great idea, but they need to expand their sizes if this is going to take off.

[itself]

Update gals. I spoke to the co-founder, Rupert, and they are in the process of getting the helmets certified. This is very good news!

[tulip]

I will definitely make the purchases when TE starts carrying the items. Thanks, itself!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I have a very small head for a grown up. I hope it would fit me.

I was having a rant just the other day yet again complaining about the lack of screaming neon yellow helmets. WTHeck!?! You'd think that would be a total hot seller- look at all the neon jackets on bikers! :confused: :mad:

WE NEED MORE HI-VIS HELMETS ON THE MARKET.

[Tri Girl]

I will definitely make the purchases when TE starts carrying the items. Thanks, itself!

Me, too!!:)
I want that helmet!!!

[itself]

Small heads, I can relate. My partner has to get childrens hats! Finding her a helmet is a bear of a task.

I let Rupert from Proviz know that we all would appreciate their carrying smaller sizes.

I am connecting Rupert with as many potential online dealers that may be interested in carrying his line. I hope it works out for TE!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Small heads, I can relate. My partner has to get childrens hats! Finding her a helmet is a bear of a task.
I let Rupert from Proviz know that we all would appreciate their carrying smaller sizes.

thank you!

Bleecker 'BeanHead' St Girl

[Crankin]

Lisa, I have a very small head, too.
Maybe we can form a small head club. It's impossible for me to find hats for winter sports that aren't giant. I have to get women's specific or kids.
But, I can wear the small sized Bell mtb helmet with lots of vents just fine. Having the ratchet in the back makes it very adjustable.

[Becky]

I let Rupert from Proviz know that we all would appreciate their carrying smaller sizes.

YAY!! Thank you! :)

[goride]

Love that helmet - the color and the lights, but I am with many of the others of you on sizing. I find that "universal" size helmets, pretty much cover my eyes, even when adjusted to their smallest setting.

[itself]

This from Rupert at Proviz:

At present our helmets come in various sizes. Saturn and Mercury - 52-58cm but fits both larger and smaller heads due to the adjustable headring. Eg I have a 61cm head yet the Saturn fits me perfectly... The Triton helmet runs to 62cm.
We will be introducing more sizes of helmets but we have so many new products in the pipeline at the moment it's a question of juggling them all correctly to continue building the brand.
Re the rucksacks. These are HUGE sellers. We regularly sell out of these - they are such a simple addition to anyone wanting to be seen at night. Why purchase a cover for your rucksack, when you can buy a waterproof rucksack, in hi viz yellow, with the added bonus of a lighting system that makes you stand out to the traffic?! The point of the electric blue colour is to allow the user to stand out above the sea of red car and other bike lights.
Probably the biggest sellers are the jackets. These are proving even popular than the rucksacks which is saying something! We have sold many thousands of these in just one year. Again, they are not a 'hard sell' - they just make sense and customers realise this.

[OakLeaf]

Um.

Helmets are tested with a head form that's within the range of sizes that the helmet is spec'ed to fit.

Even if the adjuster can be turned to accommodate a head outside that range, it is NOT approved or tested for those heads. Now, rules for ECE approval might be different, but I don't think so, not from what I know about motorcycle helmets.

Assuming this is a genuine email, it raises a lot of red flags to me, that the owner of the company would make such a claim.


... I still want one of those backpacks, though. ;)

[Becky]

Good point, Oak. I was wondering the same thing.

Also, IME as a pinhead, "universal fit" helmets have shells that are entirely too big to be comfortable or useful, even if the retention cinches down tight enough.

I'm definitely going to keep watching ProViz though....sounds like there are improvements and developments coming!

[itself]

Oakleaf,

Of course it is a genuine email, I just received it this morning!

Two brothers own the company, and he seems like a nice guy just building a business. Helmets are such a personal piece of equipment. You can't get a great fit for everyone!

[OakLeaf]

No, I know you can't get a great fit for everyone, and I don't expect this company to. My problem is that he's trying to sell people helmets that don't fit them (and claiming that he wears one himself). That's not safe - it puts consumers at risk of head injury and his company at risk of lawsuits and regulatory action.

They do have a couple of "children's/youth" helmets on the site that would fit small heads. They're not as well ventilated as the "adult" helmets, but I'm not sure how much of a problem that really is. Where there's actually a hole in the fit specs is in the intermediate sizes.

[itself]

Gals, he's not a "cars salesman" type of guy. He's excited about the positive reaction he has received from his products. I would have responded the same way, discussing the adjustablility of the helmet and how it fits me!

No red flags here, just some GREAT products! Give him a chance!

[OakLeaf]

I'm not sure you understand my concern.

A helmet is tested and rated for certain size heads. A helmet is much less likely to protect against impact if it's worn by a head outside that size range. The helmet might or might not "feel fine" on your head, but that doesn't mean it's safe. If he's had the Saturn tested and approved for his 61 cm head, then why isn't that listed in the marketing materials ... and if he hasn't, then he's putting himself at risk by wearing it.

[itself]

Oakleaf,

Under the ANSI/Snell testing standards, will this not be accomplished?

[OakLeaf]

Oakleaf,

Under the ANSI/Snell testing standards, will this not be accomplished?

Each size helmet is supposed to be tested with an appropriate sized head form. There's no certification that says that any size helmet is safe for any size head. If a manufacturer says a helmet is certified for heads 52-58 cm, there's no knowing how it would perform on heads outside that range.

It's just as much a concern with helmets that are too small (which may lack required air space or cause the user's head to compress the shell over time), but it's more obvious when you're talking about wearing a helmet that's too big. Even if the inner retaining ring can be cinched down tight enough, there's going to be more play in the parts that connected it to the shell, so it hasn't been tested for its ability to stay in place during an impact or series of impacts.


ETA - this is why you can't get smaller street motorcycling helmets in the USA, even though they're readily available in Europe. The manufacturers have had the smaller sizes CE approved, but there's not enough market in the USA to get them DOT approved. That's why you see kids in the USA wearing MX helmets when they're passengers on street bikes - and racing in grey market helmets that couldn't be legally sold here for street use.

[OakLeaf]

Looking at the Liquigas team helmets reminded me of this thread. Rudy Project (http://www.rudyprojectusa.com/index_inner_detail.php?group_id=3&cat_id=112&item_id=HL512201MUS) does indeed sell USA-legal helmets in fluorescent yellow, green and pink.

[OakLeaf]

Got my backpack.

Big kudos to ProViz for quick shipping.

Pros: Nice and bright. The battery pack is removable if you don't want to lug around the electric light patch. The patch is also removable separately from its battery pack. Comfortable shoulder straps. Roomy pack.

Cons: The sternum strap ... seriously? I'm a 34-small-b and the strap doesn't even come close to buckling across my chest. This pack is unisex if the one sex is male. :rolleyes: The fabric is very lightweight so I'm not convinced of durability. We'll see.